A refugee from Europe, stripped of his identity and roots by an invading army, searches for proof of his
existence and must come to terms with memories of violence at the hands of his country’s enemy.
History repeats itself.

SYNOPSIS:

My Name Was Icek - The Extraordinary Tale of a Young Polish Boy’s journey through Nazi Occupied

Europe. Inspired by a true story, an elderly Holocaust Survivor returns to Europe after 65 years, in an

effort to remember and come to terms with the death of his family and what he had to do to survive.

Starting in 1939, his family is imprisoned, first in Sochaczew Ghetto, 10-year-old Icek becomes the main

provider for his family. A short time later they are deported to the Warsaw Ghetto where the Jewish

Resistance enlists him to run guns and ammunition for the impending Ghetto uprising. On the night of

the uprising, his family is violently torn apart forever. Icek escapes the Warsaw Ghetto alone and returns

to his hometown of Sochaczew where he meets a young priest who Christianizes him to save his life.

They are discovered, the priest is killed by the Gestapo and Icek is imprisoned in Buchenwald

Concentration Camp where he takes the life of a fellow Jew after being forcibly raped by him. He

escapes the Buchenwald prison camp during an Allied raid on his work convoy and forges his way across

Europe alone, taking advantage of the kindness of strangers and the hubris of the German’s to survive

until the end of the war, finally making his way to America with the help of soldiers who hide him on

their transport ship.

Back in 2006, the Head Mistress thanks Eddie for coming back to let them know he survived. Eddie says

to her: “My Name Was Icek, and I existed.”

He found his proof.

Icek’s story is one of learning to forgive One’s self, and Eddie’s lifelong belief that no matter what

happens in your life, you can survive if you never give in to despair.